Units
As a Tomb Guard you are asked many different questions
by the public, but the one that we hear the most is:
"When did you join the Marines?"
The United States Army was given the honor of guarding
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1926, as the Army is the oldest of
the military services. Prior to 1926, there were no military guards
posted at the Tomb. In fact, after the interment of the Unknown Soldier
in 1921, the Tomb remained unguarded until 1925, when a civilian guard
would be present during the day. The military posted its first guard on
March 25th 1926.
The Army has been the only military service to
guard the Unknown Soldiers.
In the short time since the first interment, there have
been very few units that have guarded the Unknown Soldiers. Due to the
restructuring of the Army prior to our involvement in World War II, the
clear lines of units has been lost. With the help of the Old Guard
Museum, here is what has been uncovered:
16th Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division
March 1926 - July 1942
The units assigned to the
Washington area, fell under the control of the 8th Infantry Division.
These units were assigned to the Tomb, on a rotating duty. This duty
lasted anywhere from 15 days to 90 days.
12th Infantry Cantonment - Fort Washington, Maryland
The 12th Infantry helped build South Post of Fort Myer.
With the start of World War II, the 12th Infantry was assigned to the
4th Infantry Division, and a cadre of soldiers formed the 703rd Military
Police Battalion.
13th Engineer Battalion - Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The first 13th
Combat Engineer Battalion was activated January 13, 1921 at Fort
Humphries, Va. (now Fort Belvoir) from a nucleus of the old 5th
Engineers. From then until it became inactive February 1, 1936, the
Battalion had an enviable peace-time record. It’s reputation as a
crack outfit was recognized when two companies were selected to form the
honor guard at the burial of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery
November 11, 1921.
703rd Military Police Battalion
The 703rd Military Police Battalion, was formed after
the 12th Infantry Regiment was transferred to combat duty. The cadre
that formed the Military Police Battalion came from the older
veterans of World War I, and the newest recruits and draftees....still
learning their weapons.
3rd
Cavalry Regiment
March 1926 - February 1942
While the 3rd Cavalry was
not assigned to the 8th Infantry Division, they were part of the
rotation duty at the same time. The 3rd Cavalry was later re-designated
as the 3d Cavalry Group (Mechanized) and assigned to the XX Corps,
which was part of George Patton's famous Third U.S. Army. A
visitor could tell when the 3rd Cavalry had the duty at the Tomb, as
they wore spurs on their boots.
Ceremonial Detachment, Washington Provisional Brigade
July 1942 - April 1948
1st Battalion, 3d U.S.
Infantry (The Old Guard)
April 6, 1948 - Present
The Old Guard is the
oldest Infantry unit in the Army, dating back to June of 1784. It was
given the name "The Old Guard of the Army" by General Winfield
Scott after a bayonet charge on the Mexican citadel Chapultapec in 1847.
A Company (Ceremonial Company)
1948 - 1957
Mortar Battery (Honor Guard)
1957 - 1963
E Company (Honor Guard)
1963 - 1999
H Company
1999 - Present
